Four men held over child-marriage in Sierra Leone set to appear in landmark court case

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Eighteen is now the minimum age to wed but cases of forced marriages of underage girls persistByUmaru FofanaFreetownPublished18 minutes agoFor the first time since child marriage was banned in Sierra Leone two years ago, people accused of committing the crime are being brought to trial.Four men are to appear in court charged with the forcible marriage of a 17-year-old girl.Among the accused are the girl's father and her so-called husband. The BBC is not naming them so as to protect the child's identity.If convicted, the defendants will be jailed for at least 15 years or fined around $4,000 (£3,200), or both. Under the law, even those who attend the wedding of a child can be arrested and jailed.Sierra Leone is a patriarchal society and it has long been common for a father to give his daughter's hand in marriage forcibly.Despite the fact that 18 is now the minimum age to wed, many instances of underage girls being forced to marry persist in the country, often officiated by local religious figures.Prosecutors say this particular marriage happened in Grafton, in the outskirts of the capital city Freetown."The charges represent a significant milestone in the enforcement of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2024", Sierra Leone's Attorney General and Minister of Justice Alpha Sesay told the BBC.From escaping child marriage 'to an old pervert' to becoming Sierra Leone's first ladyPublished18 MayChild marriage ban welcomed in Sierra LeonePublished3 July 2024I believe my girlfriend died because her genitals were cutPublished1 May 2023He confirmed this was the first time that charges had been brought against anyone for offences related to contracting, consenting to or facilitating child marriage. "Before 2024 we had conflicting pieces of legislation one of which – the Customary Marriage Act – allowed parents to give their consent if the bride was a minor."But this changed two years ago when customary law was struck out, he explained, giving "a new regime to indict anyone taking part in the marriage of someone below the age of 18".The four men in this landmark case are charged with contracting marriage with a child, consenting to child marriage, plus aiding and abetting child marriage.The bride's father is alleged to have facilitated the marriage between one of the defendants and the child, and allegedly played active roles during the marriage ceremony, "ensuring that the marriage was successfully conducted".Gender activists have been quick to respond to the unprecedented move. The president of the all-female lawyers' group, Legal Access through Women Yearning for Equality Rights and Social Justice, told the BBC she felt "extremely happy".Menisa Sesay said it showed the legal reforms for which they had fought so hard were finally being enforced, vindicating their mission to protect the rights of vulnerable women and girls.As many as 30% of girls in Sierra Leone are married before they turn 18, according to a recent report by Human Rights Watch, while in rural areas some of the brides are said to be as young as 14.Activists had expressed concerns that despite the tough laws, lawbreakers were not being reigned in."The charges brought against the four… is reassuring that there is light at the end of the tunnel for women and girls in Sierra Leone", Sesay said.Additional reporting by Natasha BootyMore stories about Sierra Leone:London council takes possession of property linked to Sierra Leone's First LadyPublished12 June'My brother hid in a rice sack' - The refugee stars at the World CupPublished18 JuneIdris Elba 'dreams big' with West African eco-city planPublished17 March 2024The tree-planting mayor of Sierra LeonePublished4 March 2024Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent.Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, external, on Facebook at BBC Africa, external or on Instagram at bbcafrica, externalRelated topicsAfricaSierra LeoneBBC Africa podcastsFocus on AfricaThis Is Africa